Apple Adds New $29 Screen Repair Option to AppleCare+ for iPhone, Increases Service Fee to $99

[MacRumors]

Apple today quietly updated its AppleCare+ repair program for the iPhone, introducing a new $29 screen replacement option and raising the incidental repair fee to $99 for all iPhones.

With AppleCare+, iPhone users receive no-questions-asked coverage for two incidents of accidental damage, subject to a service fee. Previously, iPhone 6s and 6s Plus users had to pay a $99 fee for each replacement, while iPhone SE and iPhone 6 and earlier replacements were priced at $79.

Apple is now charging a $99 service fee across the board for repairs regardless of device, but at the same time, there's a new option that will save many iPhone users money -- screen repairs for a service fee of just $29.

Repairs for iPhones that need to be replaced or repaired due to a damaged screen will now be more affordable, while more significant repairs for the latest devices will continue to cost $99. Those with an iPhone SE or an iPhone 6 and older will now need to pay $99 instead of $79 for major repairs, but will also save money with the cheaper screen repair option.

AppleCare+ is priced at $129 for the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus and extends iPhone coverage for two years. AppleCare+ for the iPad is unchanged.

Article Link: Apple Adds New $29 Screen Repair Option to AppleCare+ for iPhone, Increases Service Fee to $99

 

[btrach144]

blah, I miss the old days of $75 AppleCare.

 

[N8Howell33]

I would assume this apples if you already have Apple care plus for your iPhone 6s Plus. I'm happy with this cost reduction. It's a common repair.

 

[Exile714]

Does that apply retroactively to Apple Care purchased before today?

 

[HopefulHumanist]

Quite a nice surprise. I imagine screen replacement will be the only real repair required for the water resistant iPhone 7. Definitely gonna feel more comfortable going caseless now.

 

[whyamihere]

Had AppleCare+ on all phones until the 6s when pricing went to absurd. And now they raise it more... costing $228 to get a replacement. Next year it will probably cost more to get a replacement with AppleCare+ than without!

 

[HopefulHumanist]

Had AppleCare+ on all phones until the 6s when pricing went to absurd. And now they raise it more... costing $228 to get a replacement. Next year it will probably cost more to get a replacement with AppleCare+ than without!

The price hasn't gone up. It was $129 last year and again this year. The pricing only went up at the last-gen tier. If the 7 is water resistant and screens are $29 to replace, why would you need a whole phone replacement?

 

[Hal~9000]

Had AppleCare+ on all phones until the 6s when pricing went to absurd. And now they raise it more... costing $228 to get a replacement. Next year it will probably cost more to get a replacement with AppleCare+ than without!

Oh don't you worry about that now... I'm sure over time Apple will continue raising the price of AppleCare+ but also make "worth it" by raising the price of out-of-warranty replacements too

 

[smacrumon]

Quite the rip off.

 

[AllergyDoc]

What about water damage for the iPhone 7 & 7+?

 

[macduke]

Since I'm in the iPhone Upgrade Program, I get AppleCare+. $29 is less than some cases, especially if you buy a screen protector. Maybe I'll actually go caseless this year?

What I want to know is this: can I get a replacement for scratches on the screen, or do I have to intentionally break it? I'm paying a fee, so it shouldn't matter, right? I had my first ever deeper scratch on an iPhone this year and I'm not sure how. Funny that the 6s was supposed to have the best scratch resistance of them all up to that point.

Edit: fixed accidental reversal of phrasing on scratch resistance

 

[whyamihere]

The price hasn't gone up. It was $129 last year and again this year.

Price went up from $79 to $99 for a replacement.
from 6 to 6s it went up from $99 to $129 and to start and $79 to $99 for a replacement.

If the 7 is water resistant... why would you need a whole phone replacement?

I likely won't. Which is why I do not find it a value to purchase AppleCare+ at these increased rates. The phones cost the same as they always have, so should the insurance. If the phone's value increases, then that would justify these applecare+ increases.

 

[colbertnation]

It's penny pinching like this when you have $200B cash pile that gets at me.

I'm worried this company is becoming more and more like Dell, HP, etc., in terms of customer service and penny pinching for each thing.

 

[HopefulHumanist]

Price went up from $79 to $99 for a replacement.
from 6 to 6s it went up from $99 to $129 and to start and $79 to $99 for a replacement.

Right, the prices went up last year but remain the same this year.

I likely won't. Which is why I do not find it a value to purchase AppleCare+ at these increased rates. The phones cost the same as they always have, so should the insurance. If the phone's value increases, then that would justify these applecare+ increases.

Fair enough. But the tech is more costly so I see it as a savings in the upfront device cost. I would not have felt better if the phone went up in order to justify the higher insurance.

 

[newyorkone]

I think most of the replies in this thread completely misunderstand and misinterpret the new AppleCare+ program.

The pricing for AppleCare+ didn't go up, and in fact AppleCare+ makes more sense now because you don't have to spend $99 or use up one of your incidental replacements for a cracked screen. Now you only have to pay $29 for screen repair and it doesn't count toward your 2 incidences. With the new iPhone being waterproof, you really probably won't need the incidental replacements except in situations like for example, running over your iPhone with your car, which is highly unlikely.

I didn't get AppleCare+ for my last iPhone because at $129 + $99 to replace a cracked screen, it wasn't economically feasible. Now AppleCare+ makes sense again.

 

[2298754]

Wow, that's not a bad deal. I would totally go without a screen protector with this plan.

 

[MacOSXI]

What about people that already have AppleCare+ with an iPhone SE for instance ? Fees went from $69 to $99 ! They can't increase fees mid-contract, it breaks the contract... Right ?

 

[now i see it]

I just wish I didn't know about the fact that Apple Store managers push the "crew members" hard to sell Apple care to customers buying a new phone.
It makes them a ton of money.

 

[Arran]

... The pricing for AppleCare+ didn't go up, and in fact AppleCare+ makes more sense now because you don't have to spend $99 or use up one of your incidental replacements for a cracked screen. Now you only have to pay $29 for screen repair and it doesn't count toward your 2 incidences...

Agree you only pay $29 for the screen repair now, but it looks like it does count as one incident of accidental damage:

 

[Nevaborn]

What about water damage for the iPhone 7 & 7+?

Problem is people saw the picture of a guy falling a pool and assume that is fine. IP67 the 7 bit being regarding liquid ingress makes the device suitable for protection against pressurised jets of water and temp up to 1M not for submersion of any real period of time so if someone goes in water with their iPhone 7 and it develops a fault they have no cover. It was not straightforward by Apple but it is how it will go.

 

[Christian 5G]

I'll pay someone $50 if I can get my screen replaced with someone else's apple care.

Gotta be in Orange County though

 

[Oldfash33]

Since I'm in the iPhone Upgrade Program, I get AppleCare+. $29 is less than some cases, especially if you buy a screen protector. Maybe I'll actually go caseless this year?

What I want to know is this: can I get a replacement for scratches on the screen, or do I have to intentionally break it? I'm paying a fee, so it shouldn't matter, right? I had my first ever deeper scratch on an iPhone this year and I'm not sure how. Funny that the 6s was supposed to be the least scratch resistant of them all up to that point.

Same

 

[CrystalQuest76]

It's penny pinching like this when you have $200B cash pile that gets at me..

Tim Cook with the accountants and lawyers are looking for more ways to park those profits overseas so Apple will not have to pay taxes and the select few will get massive bonuses. All the while they benefit from living in the United States and the many services that are provided.

 

[Carlanga]

This is interesting.
How much would changing a battery under AppleCare plus cost? If it even covers it after y1.

 

[seinman]

I'll pay someone $50 if I can get my screen replaced with someone else's apple care.

Gotta be in Orange County though

They check the serial number to make sure the phone is covered.